BULK CARRIER SAFETYFact: Bulk carriers, designed

and built to relevant IMO standards and

Classification specification, properly

inspected, maintained and operated in

accordance with IMO and industry

standards are safe, reliable, and have

a life expectancy of more than 20 years

provided they remain undamaged.

Fact: When bulk carriers are

loaded with dense and heavy cargoes such

as iron, dense ores or steel products they

rely on large empty spaces in holds, ballast

tanks, voids and forward tanks as reserve

buoyancy to stay afloat. If seawater enters

any of these spaces due to damaged hull,

hatches, accesses, ventilators or airpipes,

the vessel can lose buoyancy and sink

very quickly.

Fact: Many seafarers have lost

their lives when bulk carriers have sunk

because they did not have enough time to

evacuate the vessel, and on a number of

occasions vessels have sunk so fast that

not even distress signals were sent out.

• Crews should be very aware of any damage to the ship’s hull, hatches or

deck fi ttings. Such damage can be caused by contact with dockside or tugs;

by impact from cargo gear such as tractors and grabs; by damage from

corrosion (often accelerated by the chemical actions of certain cargoes); by

sloshing forces from ballast; by swinging anchors hitting the hull; or by any

damage to hatches by seas, equipment or poor maintenance.

• Crews should be aware that any loss of buoyancy in forward spaces due

to fl ooding will reduce the freeboard forward and dramatically increase the

forces of extreme weather on hull structures and hatches. If a ship takes on

an unusual trim or heel, or if her motions become changed, breach of the

hull should be suspected immediately. Visual signs of trouble can include

unusual collection of water on decks or dislodged hatch covers.

• On vessels fi tted with Water Ingress Detection System (WIDS), in the

event of a (WIDS) alarm, muster all personnel at the abandon ship stations

with the exception of those crew members investigating the alarm and

those keeping systems running, and notify authorities of Distress. In the

event of a second alarm warning of fl ooding to a greater depth, ensure

that all personnel are recalled and sent to abandon ship stations. Flooding

aboard a bulker can be more dangerous than fi re and the crew should be

fully drilled to carry out evacuation procedures urgently when the (WIDS)

alarm sounds.

• In the event of a collision, the Master should call the ship’s personnel

to emergency stations with a strong emphasis on preparing to evacuate

the ship.

• Boats, liferafts or other life-saving craft must not be launched unless

the specifi c order to do so has been given by the Master. The decision to

evacuate should be based on knowledge that the vessel is truly sinking,

the depth of water is deeper than the depth of the hull, and the speed of

sinking might prevent later launching.

Advice based on IMO MSC/Circ 1143

Advice:

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